Packaging and methods of making and using the same

ABSTRACT

Packaging and methods of making and using the same are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/696,464 filed on Sep. 4, 2012and entitled “PACKAGING AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME”, thesubject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging and methods of making andusing packaging.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Efforts continue to improve packaging of items such as food.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to novel packaging and methods ofmaking and using packaging. The packaging of the present inventionprovides an alternative method of packaging items such as food, etc.Unlike other known packaging, the packaging of the present inventiontemporarily attaches closed ends of containers to one another so thatopenable ends of the containers are positioned away from one another.

In one exemplary embodiment, the packaging of the present inventioncomprises at least two separatable containers, each container comprisinga bottom container wall, at least one container sidewall extending fromthe bottom container wall so as to form a container volume bound by thebottom container wall and the at least one container sidewall, acontainer opening surrounded by a container rim extending along an upperedge of the at least one container sidewall, and a removable containerlid positionable and sized so as to cover the container opening; and apackaging component that temporarily connects the at least twoseparatable containers to one another so that container openings of twocontainers are on opposite ends of the packaging.

In another exemplary embodiment, the packaging of the present inventioncomprises two separate containers, each container sharing a bottomcontainer wall and comprising at least one container sidewall extendingfrom the bottom container wall so as to form a container volume bound bythe bottom container wall and the at least one container sidewall, acontainer opening surrounded by a container rim extending along an upperedge of the at least one container sidewall, and a removable containerlid positionable and sized so as to cover the container opening; whereincontainer openings of the two containers are on opposite ends of thepackaging.

The present invention is further directed to methods of makingpackaging. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of making packagingof the present invention comprises forming at least two separatablecontainers, each container comprising a bottom container wall, at leastone container sidewall extending from the bottom container wall so as toform a container volume bound by the bottom container wall and the atleast one container sidewall, a container opening surrounded by acontainer rim extending along an upper edge of the at least onecontainer sidewall, and a removable container lid positionable and sizedso as to cover the container opening; and temporarily attaching eachcontainer to one another via a packaging component so that containeropenings of two containers are on opposite ends of the packaging.

In another exemplary embodiment, the method of making packaging of thepresent invention comprises forming two separate containers sharing abottom container wall, each container comprising at least one containersidewall extending from the bottom container wall so as to form acontainer volume bound by the bottom container wall and the at least onecontainer sidewall, a container opening surrounded by a container rimextending along an upper edge of the at least one container sidewall,and a removable container lid positionable and sized so as to cover thecontainer opening; wherein container openings of the two containers areon opposite ends of the packaging.

The present invention is even further directed to methods of usingpackaging. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of using packaging ofthe present invention comprises inputting one or more items into eachcontainer of a packaging, wherein the packaging comprises at least twoseparatable containers, and each container comprises a bottom containerwall, at least one container sidewall extending from the bottomcontainer wall so as to form a container volume bound by the bottomcontainer wall and the at least one container sidewall, a containeropening surrounded by a container rim extending along an upper edge ofthe at least one container sidewall, and a removable container lidpositionable and sized so as to cover the container opening; and apackaging component that temporarily connects the at least twoseparatable containers to one another so that container openings of twocontainers are on opposite ends of the packaging. In one desiredembodiment, the one or more items comprise food items.

In another exemplary embodiment, the method of using packaging of thepresent invention comprises inputting one or more items into eachcontainer of a packaging, wherein the packaging comprises two separatecontainers, each container sharing a bottom container wall andcomprising at least one container sidewall extending from the bottomcontainer wall so as to form a container volume bound by the bottomcontainer wall and the at least one container sidewall, a containeropening surrounded by a container rim extending along an upper edge ofthe at least one container sidewall, and a removable container lidpositionable and sized so as to cover the container opening; whereincontainer openings of the two containers are on opposite ends of thepackaging.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after a review of the following detailed description ofthe disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention is further described with reference to theappended figures showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention,wherein:

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an exemplary packaging of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 provides a front view of the exemplary packaging shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 provides a side view of the exemplary packaging shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 provides an end view of the exemplary packaging shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 provides a perspective view of the exemplary packaging shown inFIG. 1 when the containers are separated from one another;

FIG. 6 provides a cross-sectional view of a single container withinexemplary packaging 10 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 provides a front view of exemplary packaging of the presentinvention with an exemplary packaging component that temporarilyconnects two separatable containers to one another;

FIG. 8 provides a front view of exemplary packaging of the presentinvention with another exemplary packaging component that temporarilyconnects two separatable containers to one another;

FIG. 9 provides a front view of exemplary packaging of the presentinvention with another exemplary packaging component that temporarilyconnects two separatable containers to one another;

FIG. 10 provides a front view of exemplary packaging of the presentinvention with another exemplary packaging component that temporarilyconnects two separatable containers to one another;

FIG. 11 provides a front view of another exemplary packaging of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 12 provides a cross-sectional view of the exemplary packaging shownin FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to packaging and methods of making andusing packaging. In particular, the present invention is directed topackaging as shown in the figures, as described in the variousembodiments shown and described herein, and as recited in the claimsbelow.

Any of the herein-described packaging components may be formed usingconventional techniques. For example, many, if not all, of theherein-described components may be thermoformed (e.g., molded) frommaterials mentioned below, and subsequently joined to and/or assembledwith one another so as to result in any of the herein-describedpackaging of the present invention.

Other Embodiments Packaging

1. Packaging 10 comprising: at least two separatable containers 11, eachcontainer 11 comprising a bottom container wall 12, at least onecontainer sidewall 13 extending from said bottom container wall 12 so asto form a container volume 14 bound by said bottom container wall 12 andsaid at least one container sidewall 13, a container opening 15surrounded by a container rim 16 extending along an upper edge 17 ofsaid at least one container sidewall 13, and a removable container lid18 positionable and sized so as to cover said container opening 15; anda packaging component 19 that temporarily connects said at least twoseparatable containers 11 to one another so that container openings 15of two containers 11 are on opposite ends 20 of said packaging 10. Insome desired embodiments, said at least two separatable containers 11comprises two separatable containers 11 as shown in FIG. 1.

2. The packaging 10 of embodiment 1, wherein each container 11 furthercomprising a removable film 21 covering said container opening 15, saidremovable film 21 being temporarily present between said containeropening 15 and said removable container lid 18. See, for example,exemplary packaging 10 shown in FIG. 7.

3. The packaging 10 of embodiment 2, wherein said removable film 21comprises an integral tab component 22 that extends beyond an outerperiphery 23 of said container opening 15.

4. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a cross-sectional area extending across said containervolume 15, said cross-sectional area being substantially parallel to afirst plane P₁ containing said bottom container wall 12 and a secondplane P₂ containing said container opening 15. See, for example, thecross-sectional view of exemplary packaging 10 shown in FIG. 6, whereinan exemplary cross-sectional area is shown within plane P₃.

5. The packaging 10 of embodiment 4, wherein said cross-sectional areahas a circular configuration, a triangular configuration, a squareconfiguration, a rectangular configuration, a star-shaped configuration,a pentagonal configuration, a hexagonal configuration, or an ovalconfiguration. It should be noted that the cross-sectional area may haveany configuration. Typically, the cross-sectional area configuration isa circular configuration or an oval configuration.

6. The packaging 10 of embodiment 4 or 5, wherein said cross-sectionalarea has a circular configuration.

7. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a substantially similar container volume 14.

8. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein at leasttwo containers 11 have a different container volume 14. In thisembodiment, the length L of one container 11 is typically greater than alength L of an adjacent, attached container 11. However, in otherembodiments, containers 11 may have a similar overall length L but onecontainer 11 may have a substantially constant width W along the lengthL, while the other container 11 has an increasing width W along length L(i.e., one container 11 has a cylindrical shape, while an adjacent,attached container 11 has a truncated cone shape).

9. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a container volume 14 of at least about 3.0 cubicinches (in³).

10. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a container volume 14 of ranging from about 3.0 cubicinches (in³) to about 800 in³ (or any volume value or range of volumevalues therebetween, e.g., from about 5.3 in³ to about 752.6 in³, inincrements of 0.1 in³, e.g., 3.0 in³, 3.1 in³, 3.2 in³, . . . 798.1 in³,798.2 in³, etc.).

11. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a container volume of ranging from about 18.0 cubicinches (in³) to about 50 in³ (or any volume value or range of volumevalues therebetween, e.g., from about 18.3 in³ to about 42.6 in³, inincrements of 0.1 in³, e.g., 18.1 in³, 18.2 in³, 18.3 in³, . . . 48.1in³, 48.2 in³, etc.).

12. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein said atleast two separatable containers 11 comprises two separatable containers11.

13. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein eachcontainer 11 comprises a cellulosic material, a polymeric material, ametallic material, or any combination thereof.

14. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 2 to 13, wherein saidremovable film 21 comprises a cellulosic material, a polymeric material,a metallic material, or any combination thereof. Typically, each of saidremovable films 21 comprises a continuous sheet of cellulosic material(e.g., paper with no holes/openings therein) coated with a polymericmaterial and/or a metallic material (e.g., aluminum).

15. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein saidremovable container lid 18 comprises a cellulosic material, a polymericmaterial, a metallic material, or any combination thereof. Typically,each of said removable container lids 18 comprises (i) a continuoussheet of polymeric material (e.g., polymeric material with noholes/openings therein), and (ii) an outer edge polymeric materialcomponent extending downward from and integrally connected with saidcontinuous sheet of polymeric material, the outer edge polymericmaterial component extending along said upper edge 17 of said at leastone container sidewall 13 adjacent said container opening 15 whenpositioned onto said container rim 16.

16. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein saidremovable container lid 18 comprises a polymeric material.

17. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein saidpackaging component 19 comprises a label 24 that covers at least aportion of connecting ends 25 of said at least two separatablecontainers 11. Typically, said packaging component 19 comprises a sheetof a cellulosic material, a polymeric material, a metallic material, orany combination thereof, more typically, a sheet of a cellulosicmaterial, a polymeric material, or any combination thereof. Typically,an inner surface of said packaging component 19 (i.e., the surface thatcomes into contact with each of adjacent containers 11) is substantiallysmooth with no undulations thereon (e.g., a smooth polymeric filmsurface).

18. The packaging 10 of embodiment 17, wherein said label 24 or aportion thereof is removable so as to enable separation of adjacentcontainers 11. As shown in FIG. 7, exemplary label 24 extends along aportion of connecting ends 25 of two separatable containers 11. In thisembodiment, label 24 has a tab 28 that enables removal of all of label24 from containers 11. Further, although label 24 is shown as extendingfrom point 26 to point 27 along exemplary packaging 10, it should beunderstood that label 24 may extend from upper edge 17 of one containersidewall 13 to an opposite upper edge 17 of a container sidewall 13 ofanother, attached container 11. In other embodiments, label 24 may onlycover an intersection 26 between adjacent containers 11.

19. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein saidpackaging component 19 comprises a label 24 that covers at least aportion of connecting ends 25 of said at least two separatablecontainers 11 and a pull tab 29 operatively adapted to tear said label24 when pulled. As shown in FIG. 8, exemplary pull tab 29 tears label 24along tear line 30.

20. The packaging 10 of embodiment 19, wherein said pull tab 29 extendsalong an inner surface of said label 24 and along a line 30 extendingproximate or between adjacent bottom container walls 12 of adjacentcontainers 11.

21. The packaging of any one of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein saidpackaging component 19 comprises a label 24 that covers at least aportion of connecting ends 25 of said at least two separatablecontainers 11 and a perforated line 37 extending proximate a locationbetween said at least two separatable containers 11. See, for example,exemplary packaging 10 shown in FIG. 10.

22. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein saidpackaging component 19 comprises an adhesive component 31. See, forexample, exemplary packaging 10 shown in FIG. 5.

23. The packaging 10 of embodiment 22, wherein said adhesive component31 temporarily bonds outer surfaces 32 of adjacent bottom containerwalls 12 of adjacent containers 11.

24. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein saidpackaging component 19 comprises an elastic band 33 extending alongcontainer sidewalls 13 of adjacent containers 11. See, for example,exemplary packaging 10 shown in FIG. 9.

25. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 24, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11. See, forexample, exemplary container 11 and items 35 therein shown in FIG. 6.

26. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 25, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11, wherein eachcontainer 11 contains a similar item 35.

27. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 25, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11, wherein atleast two containers 11 contain different items 35.

28. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 27, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11 with each ofsaid one or more items 35 comprising food.

29. The packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to 28, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11 with each ofsaid one or more items 35 comprising potato chips.

30. The packaging of any one of embodiments 1 to 28, further comprisingone or more items 35 within each container 11 with each of said one ormore items 35 comprising nuts.

46. Packaging 100 comprising: two separate containers 11, each container11 sharing a bottom container wall 12 and comprising at least onecontainer sidewall 13 extending from said bottom container wall 12 so asto form a container volume 14 bound by said bottom container wall 12 andsaid at least one container sidewall 13, a container opening 15surrounded by a container rim 16 extending along an upper edge 17 ofsaid at least one container sidewall 13, and a removable container lid18 positionable and sized so as to cover said container opening 15;wherein container openings 15 of said two containers 11 are on oppositeends of said packaging 100.

47. The packaging 100 of embodiment 46, wherein each container 11further comprising a removable film 21 covering said container opening15, said removable film 21 being temporarily present between saidcontainer opening 15 and said removable container lid 18.

48. The packaging 100 of embodiment 47, wherein said removable film 21comprises an integral tab component 22 that extends beyond an outerperiphery 23 of said container opening 15.

49. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 48, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a cross-sectional area extending across said containervolume 14, said cross-sectional area being substantially parallel to afirst plane P₁ containing said bottom container wall 12 and a secondplane P₂ containing said container opening 15.

50. The packaging 100 of embodiment 49, wherein said cross-sectionalarea has a circular configuration, a triangular configuration, a squareconfiguration, a rectangular configuration, a star-shaped configuration,a pentagonal configuration, a hexagonal configuration, or an ovalconfiguration. It should be noted that the cross-sectional area may haveany configuration. Typically, the cross-sectional area configuration isa circular configuration or an oval configuration.

51. The packaging 100 of embodiment 49 or 50, wherein saidcross-sectional area has a circular configuration.

52. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 51, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a substantially similar container volume 14.

53. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 52, wherein saidtwo containers 11 have a different container volume 14. In thisembodiment, the length L of one container 11 is typically greater than alength L of an adjacent, attached container 11. However, in otherembodiments, containers 11 may have a similar overall length L but onecontainer 11 may have a substantially constant width W along the lengthL, while the other container 11 has an increasing width W along length L(i.e., one container 11 has a cylindrical shape, while an adjacent,attached container 11 has a truncated cone shape).

54. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 53, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a container volume 14 of at least about 3.0 cubicinches (in³).

55. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 54, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a container volume 14 of ranging from about 3.0 cubicinches (in³) to about 800 in³ (or any volume value or range of volumevalues therebetween, e.g., from about 5.3 in³ to about 752.6 in³, inincrements of 0.1 in³, e.g., 3.0 in³, 3.1 in³, 3.2 in³, . . . 798.1 in³,798.2 in³, etc.).

56. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 55, wherein eachcontainer 11 has a container volume 14 of ranging from about 18.0 cubicinches (in³) to about 50 in³ (or any volume value or range of volumevalues therebetween, e.g., from about 18.3 in³ to about 42.6 in³, inincrements of 0.1 in³, e.g., 18.1 in³, 18.2 in³, 18.3 in³, . . . 48.1in³, 48.2 in³, etc.).

57. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 56, wherein eachcontainer 11 comprises a cellulosic material, a polymeric material, ametallic material, or any combination thereof.

58. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 47 to 57, wherein saidremovable film 21 comprises a cellulosic material, a polymeric material,a metallic material, or any combination thereof.

59. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 58, wherein saidremovable container lid 18 comprises a cellulosic material, a polymericmaterial, a metallic material, or any combination thereof.

60. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 59, wherein saidremovable container lid 18 comprises a polymeric material.

61. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 60, furthercomprising a label 24 that covers at least a portion of connecting ends25 of said two separate containers 11.

62. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 61, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11.

63. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 62, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11, wherein eachcontainer 11 contains a similar item 35.

64. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 62, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11, wherein saidtwo containers 11 contain different items 35.

65. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 64, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11 with each ofsaid one or more items 35 comprising food.

66. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 65, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11 with each ofsaid one or more items 35 comprising potato chips.

67. The packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to 65, furthercomprising one or more items 35 within each container 11 with each ofsaid one or more items 35 comprising nuts.

Methods of Making Packaging:

31. A method of making the packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to30, said method comprising: forming each container 11; and temporarilyattaching each container 11 to one another via the packaging component19.

32. The method of embodiment 31, further comprising: positioning one ormore items 35 within each container 11.

33. The method of embodiment 32, further comprising: sealing eachcontainer 11 with a removable film 21 covering the container opening 15.

34. The method of any one of embodiments 31 to 3, further comprising:temporarily attaching the removable container lid 18 so as to cover thecontainer opening 15.

68. A method of making the packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to67, said method comprising: forming each container 11 so as to share abottom container wall 12.

69. The method of embodiment 68, further comprising: positioning one ormore items 35 within each container 11.

70. The method of embodiment 69, further comprising: sealing eachcontainer 11 with a removable film 21 covering the container opening 15.

71. The method of any one of embodiments 68 to 70, further comprising:temporarily attaching the removable container lid 18 so as to cover thecontainer opening 15.

Methods of Using Packaging:

35. A method of using the packaging 10 of any one of embodiments 1 to30, said method comprising: inputting one or more items 35 into eachcontainer 11.

36. A method of embodiment 35, further comprising: providing thepackaging 10 to a consumer.

37. A method of embodiment 35 or 36, further comprising: separating twocontainers 11 from one another.

38. A method of embodiment 37, wherein said separating step comprisesremoving at least a portion of a label 24 surrounding at least a portionof each of the two containers 11.

39. A method of embodiment 37 or 38, wherein said separating stepcomprises pulling a tab 29 so as to tear a portion of a label 24surrounding at least a portion of each of the two containers 11.

40. A method of embodiment 37 or 38, wherein said separating stepcomprises removing a label 24 surrounding at least a portion of each ofthe two containers 11.

41. A method of embodiment 37, wherein said separating step comprisestearing along a perforated line 37 within the label 24.

42. A method of embodiment 37, wherein said separating step comprisesremoving an elastic band 33 surrounding at least a portion of each ofthe two containers 11.

43. A method of any one of embodiments 35 to 42, further comprising:removing the removable container lid 18 of at least one container 11.

44. A method of any one of embodiments 35 to 43, further comprising:removing a removable film covering 21 so as to provide access to thecontainer volume 14 of at least one container 11.

45. A method of any one of embodiments 35 to 44, further comprising:replacing the removable container lid 18 so as to cover a containeropening 15 of at least one container 11.

72. A method of using the packaging 100 of any one of embodiments 46 to67, said method comprising: inputting one or more items 35 into eachcontainer 11.

73. A method of embodiment 72, further comprising: providing thepackaging 100 to a consumer.

74. A method of any one of embodiments 68 to 73, further comprising:removing the removable container lid 18 of at least one container 11.

75. A method of any one of embodiments 68 to 74, further comprising:removing a removable film 21 so as to provide access to the containervolume 14 of at least one container 11.

76. A method of any one of embodiments 68 to 75, further comprising:replacing the removable container lid 18 so as to cover a containeropening 15 of at least one container 11.

It should be understood that although the above-described packaging andmethods are described as “comprising” one or more components or steps,the above-described packaging and methods may “comprise,” “consists of,”or “consist essentially of” any of the above-described components,features or steps of the packaging and methods. Consequently, where thepresent invention, or a portion thereof, has been described with anopen-ended term such as “comprising,” it should be readily understoodthat (unless otherwise stated) the description of the present invention,or the portion thereof, should also be interpreted to describe thepresent invention, or a portion thereof, using the terms “consistingessentially of” or “consisting of” or variations thereof as discussedbelow.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having,” “contains”, “containing,” “characterizedby” or any other variation thereof, are intended to encompass anon-exclusive inclusion, subject to any limitation explicitly indicatedotherwise, of the recited components. For example, packaging and/ormethod that “comprise(s)” a list of elements (e.g., components, featuresor steps) is not necessarily limited to only those elements (orcomponents or steps), but may include other elements (or components orsteps) not expressly listed or inherent to the packaging and/or method.

As used herein, the transitional phrases “consists of” and “consistingof” exclude any element, step, or component not specified. For example,“consists of” or “consisting of” used in a claim would limit the claimto the components, materials or steps specifically recited in the claimexcept for impurities ordinarily associated therewith (i.e., impuritieswithin a given component). When the phrase “consists of” or “consistingof” appears in a clause of the body of a claim, rather than immediatelyfollowing the preamble, the phrase “consists of” or “consisting of”limits only the elements (or components or steps) set forth in thatclause; other elements (or components) are not excluded from the claimas a whole.

As used herein, the transitional phrases “consists essentially of” and“consisting essentially of” are used to define packaging and/or methodthat includes materials, steps, features, components, or elements, inaddition to those literally disclosed, provided that these additionalmaterials, steps, features, components, or elements do not materiallyaffect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention.The term “consisting essentially of” occupies a middle ground between“comprising” and “consisting of”.

Further, it should be understood that the herein-described packaging andmethods may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of any of theherein-described components and features, as shown in the figures withor without any feature(s) not shown in the figures. In other words, insome embodiments, the packaging and/or methods of the present inventiondo not have any additional features other than those shown in thefigures, and such additional features, not shown in the figures, arespecifically excluded from the packaging and/or methods. In otherembodiments, the packaging and/or methods of the present invention dohave one or more additional features that are not shown in the figures.

While the specification has been described in detail with respect tospecific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilledin the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, mayreadily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents tothese embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present inventionshould be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalentsthereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. Packaging comprising: at least two separatablecontainers, each container comprising a bottom container wall, at leastone container sidewall extending from said bottom container wall so asto form a container volume bound by said bottom container wall and saidat least one container sidewall, a container opening surrounded by acontainer rim extending along an upper edge of said at least onecontainer sidewall, and a removable container lid positionable and sizedso as to cover said container opening; and a packaging component thattemporarily connects said at least two separatable containers to oneanother so that container openings of two containers are on oppositeends of said packaging.
 2. The packaging of claim 1, wherein eachcontainer further comprising a removable film covering said containeropening, said removable film being temporarily present between saidcontainer opening and said removable container lid.
 3. The packaging ofclaim 2, wherein said removable film comprises an integral tab componentthat extends beyond an outer periphery of said container opening.
 4. Thepackaging of claim 1, wherein each container has a cross-sectional areaextending across said container volume, said cross-sectional area beingsubstantially parallel to a first plane containing said bottom containerwall and a second plane containing said container opening.
 5. Thepackaging of claim 4, wherein said cross-sectional area has a circularconfiguration, a triangular configuration, a square configuration, arectangular configuration, a star-shaped configuration, a pentagonalconfiguration, a hexagonal configuration, or an oval configuration. 6.The packaging of claim 4, wherein said cross-sectional area has acircular configuration.
 7. The packaging of claim 1, wherein eachcontainer has a substantially similar container volume.
 8. The packagingof claim 1, wherein at least two containers of said at least twoseparatable containers have a different container volume.
 9. Thepackaging of claim 1, wherein each container has a container volume ofranging from about 3.0 cubic inches (in³) to about 800 in³.
 10. Thepackaging of claim 1, wherein said at least two separatable containerscomprises two separatable containers.
 11. The packaging of claim 1,wherein each container comprises a cellulosic material, a polymericmaterial, a metallic material, or any combination thereof said removablefilm comprises a cellulosic material, a polymeric material, a metallicmaterial, or any combination thereof and said removable container lidcomprises a cellulosic material, a polymeric material, a metallicmaterial, or any combination thereof.
 12. The packaging of claim 1,wherein each container comprises a cellulosic material, a polymericmaterial, a metallic material, or any combination thereof said removablefilm comprises a cellulosic material, a polymeric material, a metallicmaterial, or any combination thereof and wherein said removablecontainer lid comprises a polymeric material.
 13. The packaging of claim1, wherein said packaging component comprises a label that covers atleast a portion of connecting ends of said at least two separatablecontainers.
 14. The packaging of claim 13, wherein said label or aportion thereof is removable so as to enable separation of adjacentcontainers.
 15. The packaging of claim 14, wherein said packagingcomponent comprises a label that covers at least a portion of connectingends of said at least two separatable containers and a pull taboperatively adapted to tear said label when pulled.
 16. The packaging ofclaim 15, wherein said pull tab extends along an inner surface of saidlabel and along a line extending proximate or between adjacent bottomcontainer walls of adjacent containers.
 17. The packaging of claim 14,wherein said packaging component comprises a label that covers at leasta portion of connecting ends of said at least two separatable containersand a perforated line extending proximate a location between said atleast two separatable containers.
 18. The packaging of claim 1, whereinsaid packaging component comprises an adhesive component, said adhesivetemporarily bonding outer surfaces of adjacent bottom container walls ofadjacent containers.
 19. The packaging of claim 1, further comprisingone or more items within each container.
 20. The packaging of claim 19,wherein said one or more items within each container independentlycomprise a food item.